Shinya Aoki to train with Cesar Gracie camp

Well would you look at that, the Cesar Gracie clan has a soft side after all.

GracieFighter.com reports that after prized pupil Gilbert Melendez wiped the cage with Shinya Aoki last weekend at Strikeforce: Nashville, Aokl actually put in a request to formally train with the Cesar Gracie camp.

And in what can only be described as a kind gesture, Gracie has obliged Aoki and welcomed him into the Gracie fold.

Cesar Gracie has also gone as far as to invite other Japanese fighters to come train with his formidable stable of mixed martial artists.

One could easily view this move by Aoki as somewhat of an admittance of ineptitude relative to his counterparts who regularly compete stateside. But he should also be given credit for presumably accepting the fact that he's not quite on the same level as some of the other top lightweights in the world and has no problems working at improving his game.

Damn smart move for him. Something Cro Cop should have done when he first signed with the UFC. Aoki is going to get a wake up call and find out that it's not just Gilbert that can kick his ass in the states. But again, this will be good for him IMO.

I still say Aoki and King Mo need to train together. Aoki could learn how to take somebody down, and Mo could learn what to do once you get there. But I guess learning the difference between kind bud and schwag from the Diaz boys could have it's advantages, too.

I still say Aoki and King Mo need to train together. Aoki could learn how to take somebody down, and Mo could learn what to do once you get there. But I guess learning the difference between kind bud and schwag from the Diaz boys could have it's advantages, too.

Maybe he'll learn to be less of a dick, or more likely, maybe he'll learn to punch.

Considering how a members of that same camp jumped Mayhem, I think Aoki will still have his shining personality when all is said and done. Still, I hope he shores up his wrestling and works on his boxing.